Jordan Parry in action during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo / Photosport
Jordan Parry in action during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand rower Jordan Parry has enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2021 that resulted in a maiden Olympic Games appearance, but he's refusing to lay claim to the single sculls boat.
The 26-year-old from Tauranga dominated the national trials in March and overthrew two-time Olympic gold medallist Mahé Drysdale forselection in the elite team's single boat, paving the way for his trip to Tokyo.
He describes his campaign as a "privilege", and while being knocked out in the quarter-finals and finishing 13th – winning the C final – it was a sturdy foundation for one of the country's top young rowers to build off.
But Parry's not about to commit to the vessel he occupied on Tokyo's Sea Forrest Waterway, even if it appears his to lose at this stage.
"I'm keeping my options open at the moment I think. There are some good guys coming through the system and who knows what, so just making myself the best possible athlete I can at the moment I think is currently what we can do," he said.
Parry's forte has come in the quadruple sculls, winning three medals – including one gold – at the under-23 world championships from 2015 to 2017. It was also the boat he rowed at world championships and world cups in 2018 and 2019.
While resisting to confirm his interest in the quad sculls at future Olympic Games, Parry said it would be "cool" to be a part of.
"You've got the guys from the US – [Jack] Lopas and Ollie Maclean, and Jack O'Leary is in the summer squad at the moment. The guys who won in 2017, they always give me a lot of drive so… the door is open I guess.
"I'd just like to get the ball rolling a little more from the three months of what felt quite different from what I'd usually do in my rowing career. A bit more intensive, a bit more yourself focused in development. I think that was great momentum and I think if we build on that a bit more it could be something special."
Mahe Drysdale, Robbie Manson and Jordan Parry at the 2019 National Championships. Photo / Photosport
Parry admits once his Tokyo Olympic campaign finished, he felt "embarrassed, a bit defeated" as if he had "failed". But upon reflection, he knows he did the best he could with just three months of intense preparation.
"There are so many moments that were just really cool to reflect on, and what a privilege it was in the Covid crisis we're in, to be able to go overseas at a time like that, is quite rare at the moment," he adds.
One man who has been along for the ride, quickly going from competitor to companion, has been the now 42-year-old Drysdale, who began offering Parry guidance as soon as his bid for an incredible fifth Olympic campaign was quashed.
The pair have trained regularly – naturally when alert levels have allowed – and shared experiences, often with the elder of the two passing down his wisdom.
"We'd do a training session and pace off each other during the morning, and straight afterwards I would be asking him questions," Parry said.
"Some would be how you measure yourself to peak against those European countries or being competitive on the world stage – how do you measure yourself to peak. He's a real numbers man … he's good at measuring how he can get to the top, and does it to perfection.
"He just mentioned backing yourself as really quite helpful, how important it is because it's just you and your own internal dialogue… you're your own cheerleader in a way."
